It’s all lies, says Modi on opposition charges against government

BJP has been at the receiving end of opposition onslaught on the Rafale jet deal, demonetisation, the SC rights issue, economy and other issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed his government has achieved more in 48 months than was done under Congress rule of 48 years, even as he dismissed the opposition Mahagatbandhan as an alliance of parties that cannot see eye to eye and have joined hands and rake up falsehoods with the sole aim of defeating the BJP.

Delivering the valedictory address at the BJP National Executive Meeting here, Modi also referred to the SC/ST Act amendment issue and the backlash from the upper caste in some parts where protests have been held against the BJP. The PM alleged that the Congress keeps shifting its stand on such issues and emphasised that the leaders should combat this by taking the party view to villages and families.

Referring to the opposition attacks on the rights of SCs, a BJP leader quoted Modi as stating in his speech that the Congress first alleged BJP is anti-SC(during the Rohit Vemula protests and the SC verdict on SC/ST Act) and after the amendment to SC/ST Act, it is now calling the party anti-upper caste.

“The Opposition wants to fight the elections neither on the basis of ideology nor does it have the courage to fight on the basis of work and conduct. Hence it is resorting to the politics of falsehoods,” Modi was quoted as having said.

BJP has been at the receiving end of opposition onslaught on the Rafale jet deal, demonetisation, the SC rights issue, economy and other issues. The ruling party has dismissed all these charges as false and misleading.

With elections in five states round the corner and Lok Sabha elections just seven months away, these allegations have been a cause of concern in a section of the BJP. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have seen protests on the SC/ST Act amendments by the upper castes.

“The opposition has only one job now— tell a new lie every day and repeat the lie again and again. We have to give a befitting reply to the opposition lies. Parties which cannot see eye to eye have been forced to join hands,” Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, quoting Modi.

While BJP leaders have underscored time and again that Modi’s charisma will help the party get another term and this was mentioned on several occasions during the two-day conclave, Modi himself gave enough hints that the legacy of BR Ambedkar, Vajpayee and Sardar Patel will also be harnessed in the campaign.